Dead-beat escapement



D. L. MOZART.

Clock Escapement.

Patented Aug. 9, 1859.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DON J. MOZART, OF YELLOWV SPRINGS, OHIO.

DEAD-BEAT ESCAPEMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent N 0. 25,084, dated August 9', 1859.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DON J. MOZART, of Yellow Springs, in the county of Greene and State of Ohio, have invented a new and Improved Scapement for Regulating Clocks, atches, and other lslovements of Machinery to Vhich it is Applicable; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had, to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification.

Figure 1, being a plan of my improved scapement, arranged together with parts immediately connected therewith; Fig. 2, a front elevation of the same; Fig. 3, a side elevation thereof.

Like letters designate corresponding parts in all the figures.

I term my invention the Dead-beat, star and crescent double scapement, which name indicates its peculiarities. The quality of the dead beat, which it possesses, is not the same as that to which 'the term is commonly applied, but is thus called because, while it essentially fulfils the important purpose aimed at in the ordinary dead-beat escapement, it has no beat, being nearly or quite silent in its action. The principal parts composing the scapement, are a scape-wheel E, nearly of the form called star-shape, and of two vibrating scapers (so called) Gr, G, of crescent form, each provided with two roller pallets f, f, and of a short rack an, arranged in the arc of a circle, concentric with the motion of the scaper, and gearing into a lantern wheel or pinion n, on the spindle of a balance-wheel H, or its equivalent. Thus, there are two scapers and two balance wheels, to each scapement, for the purposes hereinafter set forth, and rendering the action of the scapement double.

In the drawings, a wheel D, gears into the pinion p, of the scape-wheel E; and since the improved scapement requires much less power and motion than other scapements, for reasons hereinafter specified, much of the ordinary gearing required by them may be dispensed with, so that the said wheel D, may be the main wheel of the movement in many machines. And the ratchet wheel 5, for winding up, may be on the axis or spindle b, of the scape-wheel.

The star points, or teeth, on the scape- Wheel E, are most properly only five in num ber, thereby allowing just room for the scapers G, G, to act together therewith, in

the smallest space, and also enabling the greatest possible extent of vibration to be given to the said scapers, by making the spaces between the star points deep. The size, shape, and position of each scaper G, and the distance between the pallet rollers f, f, are such, in relation to the scape-wheel and to the other scaper, that when one pallet roller passes the extreme point i, of each star point, or tooth, the other pallet roller of the same scaper just reaches the bottom it, between two of the star points, as shown by the left scraper in Fig. 1; and at the same moment, one pallet roller of the other scaper is in contactwith the middle of the face 9, of one star point, or tooth, and the other pallet roller of the same scaper is similarly situated behind, but not in contact with, a star point of the scape wheel, as shown by the right scaper in Fig. 1. By this arrange ment, not only does one pallet roller alternate with its fellow, but those of one scaper alternate with those of the other scaper, so that two star points are pressing against two pallet rollers continually. Hence there is no jumping of the teeth of the scapement from one pallet to the other, and consequently no beat, and no loss of motion arising from the jump, which wastes a large portion of the motion of the train, in other movements. Besides, all jarring of the machine is obviated; and the whole work is silent, an important desideratum in some machines, such as automatic fans. And although there is a continual action of the scape-wheel upon the scapers, which with other scapements would subject the balancewheel to so much acceleration of motion, by increase of power, as to render the movement very inaccurate for time-pieces, in this arrangement, such tendency to disadvantage is counteracted and neutralized by peculiar advantages arising therefrom: First, the scape-wheel first strikes the pallet rollers much nearer its center, than when it leaves them, so that, at the moment when the scapers are not in motion, the action may be greatest, and constantly diminish in force, as the motion of the scapers increases, in order that the additional impulse may constantly remain only about sufficient to compensate the loss of force or momentum from friction and resistance of the air; and to this end, not only is advantage taken of the diminishing leverage of the scape-wheels action. as the Vibration of the scapers continues, but the faces 79, 79, of the star points, are so curved as to properly proportion the act-ion of the force required, the shape being nearly as shown in Fig. 1. Second, by the use and alternate action of two scapers, two star points are continually acting on two pallet rollers, with different and balancing forces, so that one acts as a check or regulator for the other, thereby further tending to produce a uniformity and constancy of motion. Third, this scapement has no dead point to be overcome, the action of the scapement being continual and uniform throughout, so that the work will start at one point as well as at another. The consequence of this feature is, that the power required to dirve the work is reduced to the minimum, and any small variation thereof, has very little effect on the rate of speed, because of its diminished influence thereon. This feature is indispensable in machines which constantly apply power to some purpose, such as driving sewing machines, to which this movement is very applicable.

The crescent scapers G, G, have counter plates G, G, to receive the opposite journals of the pallet rollers, f, f, and said counter plates are secured to the pivots cZ, (Z, on which the scapers vibrate, to keep them in place; or they may be otherwise connected with the scapers.

The racks, or segments of cogs, m. m,

matching into the pinions n, n, cause the vibrations of the balance-wheels, flies, or other equivalent regulators, H, H, whereby the motion is regulated as usual. No hairsprings are required for the balance wheels, with this improved scapement.

hat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is The improved arrangement of the double scapers G, G, with the star scape-wheel E, or its equivalent, substantially as, and for the purpose herein specified.

In witness that the above is a true specification of my new and improved dead-beat scapement, I hereunto set my hand this sixth day of June, 1859.

DON J. MOZART. Vitnesses:

J. S. BROWN, R. F. OsoooD. 

